Effect of chest and abdominal wall mobility and respiratory muscle strength on forced vital capacity in older adults

This study investigated by sex the effect of chest and abdominal wall mobility and respiratory muscle strength on forced vital capacity (FVC) in older adults. FVC, respiratory muscle strength, and chest and abdominal wall mobility were assessed in 154 community-dwelling older adults. As an index of the chest and abdominal wall mobility, chest (upper and lower chest) and total (upper chest, lower chest, and abdomen) scale values were measured using the breathing movement scale. Subjects with a restrictive spirometric pattern showed significantly lower chest and total scale values in both sexes, maximal inspiratory strength in women, and maximal expiratory strength in men. Chest and total scale values were significantly associated with FVC in the multiple regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed fair to good specificity of chest and total scale values for detecting a restrictive spirometric pattern. The results show that chest and abdominal wall mobility is closely associated with FVC in community-dwelling older adults without airflow limitation.